My wife has moderate dementia. She cries most of the night. Any suggestions?

My Mom goes to bed most nights crying and of course this keeps her awake. Then she has sundowners where she wanders around not knowing where she is. She has been in geriatric psych, and they changed meds around, and it has been better, but she is still weepy when she goes to bed. I had her evaluated by a psychistrist in an outpatien program and he prescibed Trazadone for it. It has helped her sleep and doens't wander, but she still goes to bed crying. My Mom has always been on the depressed/anxious side, so this is just worse, now that she has dementia. This has helped at least. A regulat doctor may be able to prescribe the same things for her, but the inpatient psych program observed her on different meds and came up with a combo that does help. I hope you find a solution. I know that is wearing on you, too, because you want to help but there is nothing you can do to make her any better. I know, I've tried everything.

Oh you poor things! How sad for both of you. Have you discussed this with her doctor? (Does she see a dementia specialist?)

I don't have any answers. (My husband did not cry.) But I send you warm hugs. I hope someone else has dealt with this.

ren345 This may work....get her a baby doll. No joke I've seen miracles and smiles come out of women who cuddle and care for a baby doll. She might not know who you are and possibly feel lost and confused at this time of day. Check her medications this may cause her to be unstable, she may have wrong combo of drugs or wrong ones in general or she may not be swallowing them, watch carefully, they get pretty sneaky sometimes, it's often they don't know what's good for them. Unfortunately I see a lot of this behavior at my Mom's nursing home. Music is the best medicine for sure. Play a song she knows, for sure it will bring a happy memory.